GIT-R-DONE: The Fast, Easy & Cost-Effective Approach to Holiday Decor

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HOLY SANTA CLAUS'S BEARD, 
IT'S NOVEMBER 23RD!

That really shouldn't make a difference to anyone who knows me because, to be honest, I decorate starting November 1st.  However, for the rest of the holiday-sane community, most people try to decorate the day after Thanksgiving.  This is something I never quite understood coming from Wisconsin, because as I sit in the balmy weather of Central California, my Midwestern kinfolk are huddled inside as Wisconsin is a whopping 23 degrees outside.

 Can anyone say,  

Baby it's cold outside?

I know you've already heard me complain about how un-Christmasey it feels here in Central Cali due to the lack of snow and the irony of having snowflake/snowmen decor, but I have made a few adjustments to my decor and thought I would share them with my bliggety blog community.

I've combed the pages on Pinterest for inspiration and came up with a few concepts that may help you out this holiday season and go a little easy on a college graduate budget.

The children hung their stockings by the fire with care

I love the little details when it comes to designing.  Attention to detail can turn any space into something fabulous.  After seeing advent calendars of mini-stockings, I went on Etsy to see if I could find something similar and only found expensive options.  Target came to the rescue with $3 mitten ornaments that came in a pair.  I took red ribbon with a stream of white dots and hung that along the fireplace.  I then separated each mitten and hung them up with mini clothespins.  It turned out really cute and is one of my favorite decor pieces in the house.  The mini clothespins also came in handy for another idea that's farther along the page.

I ended up buying 5 pairs, so this cost me a little over $15, which definitely  beat the $100+ cost of similar items that I found on Etsy.

 

 

 

 

Mini-Ornament Christmas Tree

Shadow box, scrapbook papers and ornaments cost under $20

I had a few ideas in my head for this concept before creating it and I kind of just went with what I found at our local Michael's.  Instead of purchasing a frame or shadow box like many Pinterest instructions say, I found a wooden shadow box in the unfinished wood items aisle at Michael's for around/under $7.  I then bought blue metallic scrapbook paper as well as a specialty snowflake paper and all of this was for the background.  To actually create the tree, I bought a package of mini ball ornaments that come with about 27 ornaments.  I hot glued the mini ornaments, while layering them on top of each other and it created this beautiful stacking effect.  That was basically it.  A really easy craft piece that is perfect as display piece. 

Shades of Gold

Cost under $10 to recreate these deer

Normally you find decorative deer pieces ranging from $30-$50.  I spotted a few paper-mache deer at a local craft store called Beverly's and here's the kicker...the only cost me $2 each!  I picked three different shades of metallic golds and one is more like a copper but all I needed to do was paint them.  They look incredibly sharp in front of any mantle, coffee table or just an entrance-way piece.  Right now they've made their home on the mantle as I figure out how I want our decor to go.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

I'm sure you've seen these tutorials all over Pinterest, but these trees are so easy to make!  The trees themselves can range from $2-$6, depending on the size.  The best part is wandering the aisles of your local craft store or that craft tub at home and figuring out how you want to decorate them.  The imagination can run wild with these.  I used textured yarns, glitter, feathers, etc. on the ones that I created.  I plan on making more and turning my mantle into a forest that any winter wonderland would be proud of.

An Alternative to Christmas Canvases

Cost me under $10 for this lovely canvas-want-to-be

I have been swooning over the adorable prints featured on Pinterest and Etsy.  As a person who has done quite a bit of graphic design, I've been itching to make some prints.  However, frames can get expensive.  You can, of course, make prints to fit your already existing frames and then swap out those family portraits for some holiday cheer or you can try out this tip.

I wanted to have Christmas canvases but paying for large canvases is not for the faint of heart.  Well I'm always determined to have my cake and eat it too, so I went to home depot and bought pieces of wood planking.  Essentially they're really thin shelves.  They're a little long, but that's easily fixed at home if you have a saw/those kind of materials and I also think that Home Depot (and similar stores) can adjust them for you as well.  It cost me under $7 and looks amazing on my mantle. I painted it with black acrylic paint and let it dry, then free-handed the lyrics, "O Holy Night, the Stars are Brightly Shining" in white acrylic paint.  It brings the entire room together and I love it!

Oh There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays

Does anyone love getting mail as much as I do?  Christmas amps up that excitement as I receive cards from friends and loved ones who are now all over the world!  I wanted to decorate our kitchen a little more but wasn't entirely sure how, apart from adding kitchen towels embroidered with holiday cheer.  This is so easy to do, you'll just love it.  I bought wide ribbon from Michael's, around $3 and cut appropriate lengths out to match the length of the cabinets and 

secured them to the back of the doors.  The mini clothespins I used from a previous project, mentioned above, were perfect for attaching Christmas cards and photos.  It definitely adds a little extra warmth to the kitchen.

Schooled by a Chalkboard

If you don't have a chalkboard and have your own living space, you really need one.  Why has this turned into a need, instead of simply a want?  Well it's because a chalkboard is so versatile.  From daily reminders to becoming a decor piece, it has a ton of uses that expand from just being a old school staple.  Chalkboard font has become an art and it's also just a lot of fun.

You can check out my experience making a chalkboard here.

That basically wraps up what I've done so far in terms of decorating.  We have our tree up and my husband has put on our new tree topper, a star!  It's our first Christmas tree together and we're so excited.  It's decorated with both our ornaments and my roommate's, so it's filled with a lot of memories for being a new tree.

Today in the mail, I received this from one of best-friend's, Courtney:

You all knew that I was going to try it. I know a good present when I see one ;)

xoxo,

 

Holiday Dilemma

It might just be me, in full-blown rosy retrospection of Wisconsin winters, but to quote Dorothy,

I don't think we're in Kansas anymore

...but quite literally, we're not.

We're in central California and this has to be the weirdest winter dynamic I have ever been a part of.

I'm used to this:

but instead, I now have this:




To say this is a strange dichotomy would be an understatement.
I am now trying to figure out the best way to hang up holiday lights because we don't have gutters here.  Is it weird to have snowflake decor when there really isn't any snow?
The Walmart has snowmen, snowflake lights and pine trees with fake glistening snow.
Um excuse me, it was 80 degrees yesterday.


A year ago I was throwing snowballs and trudging through slushy sidewalks on the UW campus and now I'm listening to satellite radio from NYC with them telling me I can go ice-skating at Trump's Ice Rink for free (this is in New York).

It doesn't feel like the holiday season here.  My new home just put up their city lights on the lamp posts while I drove through the city during lunch.  During the day, they looked like really ugly tinsel-ridden Christmas trees but in the night, all lit up, it was a little taste of something magical.
It was the first sign of the holidays around here.  It's not like there's going to be a Christmas snow.
I'm not entirely sure what I'm expecting out of this itty bitty city, but I sure do miss the grandeur of the holidays and the beautiful lights displays.

Yeah, I know it's Disney but c'monnnn this is awesome!

Nevertheless, I still plan on doing my best to make this an amazing Christmas.
That's why I wanted to share this awesome organization with all of you called Wreaths Across America.  It's a program that places wreaths on grave sites of fallen military members.  I visited Arlington National Cemetery, probably eight years ago, and to be in such a memorable and honored place was really moving.  The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier brought tears to my eyes.  With this program you can choose to donate multiple wreaths or do a pairing where your purchase is sent as a donation to the program and you too, also receive a wreath for your home.




Consider choosing this program as part of your holiday decor and I certainly hope you're enjoying the season thus far.  I know I'll be enjoying the sunshine, even while listening to "White Christmas."

xoxo,

Happy Friendsgiving!

I've had a rough week.

I ended up messing up one of my academic goals and I had to play a vigorous game of catch-up for the past four days.  That game has only intensified as I try to do better in my training school.

The best thing that did come out of this week was that I met some awesome people, people that I may not have interacted with as much as I would have otherwise.

Messing up on an exam, although making me feel awful, was a sobering event.

I've re-routed how I choose to study and have spent hours at the schoolhouse studying everyday as long as it's open.  It also forced me to keep an open mind in choosing new goals and that's just life.

My friends, my awesome crew partner, my caring roommate, my husband and then my family back home were all cheering me on this week.  It was so greatly appreciated.

 Therefore when I woke up today, I knew something epic was about to happen.

F r i e n d s g i v i n g

A time for me to attempt to make my first Thanksgiving dinner all on my own.

My roommate and I headed to the commissary to stock up on groceries for the week and to get materials to make a scrumptious Thanksgiving meal.

I made a turkey, my roomie made mashed potatoes and rolls, 

and I also made stuffing, gravy and green bean casserole.

A couple of our friends came over and enjoyed a yummy meal and good times.

We swapped memories of our families and experiences being new lieutenants.

As this week starts, I have been reflecting on what I am thankful for-including my blessed life.

Last night, I was perusing Facebook and came across the idea of looking up an old acquaintance.

She got married a few years before I did and her husband was in the Army.

I noticed that a few things were off, mainly the very lacking presence of her husband.

They had this incredible marriage that was just so adorable.

He was KIA a couple years ago during a deployment.

That same year Ryan was on his first deployment.

I saw pictures of her crying as she received his body at Dover AFB and I couldn't help but cry.

When Ryan was deployed, I thought about what that might be like for me.

In my head, I had this scenario of having to report to the Colonel of our detachment and having him sit down in front of strangers as they told me that my husband had his youth stolen from him.

I spent over seven months having trouble sleeping and praying for as much contact as possible with my husband.  When Ryan came home in May of this year (a couple days after I graduated from UW) it was the best feeling I have ever had.  Having the Patriot Guard riders escort the white buses in and hearing the roar was incredible.  I ran around the bus and jumped into my husband's arms.

I am so thankful for that moment and all our future possibilities and opportunities.

The depth of sacrifice from our veterans and their families will forever floor me.

I am so thankful for my husband and the love that we have.

Spending four years in college and working my booty off to get good grades was well worth it.

I graduated from an amazing university and earned my commission as an Air Force officer.

It may have not been easy, but it most certainly was worth it.

My life has been filled with amazing experiences and people who have forever changed my life.

I am the first college graduate from my mother's side and the first military officer, as well as first female military officer.

I am thankful for the opportunity of higher education.

I have done a lot this year.  Graduated, moved from Madison back to my hometown and then to California.  This ever-changing, fast-paced life has been awesome.  I lived in two different cities in California and have had two different houses here.  I have been able to explore so many different cities and even head to L.A. to see the Cirque du Soleil show, Iris.  I've seen the beautiful Pacific Ocean and California mountains.  I've gone wine-tasting for the very first time.  Right out of college I have a job and a home and food on the table, I am incredibly fortunate.

I am thankful for the roof over my head, the beautiful views right in my own backyard, the opportunity to have a steady job and the food on our table.

...and this year I will get a New Year's Kiss. 

I am incredibly blessed.

Have a wonderful week and may you appreciate all that you have.

xoxo,

 

 

 

Change is a Good Thing

Ta-Da!

After much deliberation, I would like to unveil the newly named version of my blog.
I initially started with my name because I really wanted this to be an outlet to offer my name some branding with the crafting/DIY/design world but after awhile I decided that a fun name might be just the trick I need.  Who knows, if I get bored of it, my actual name will still be there ;)

The Simplicity of Being Curious was inspired by my love of books and my incredibly curious nature.  I tend to be spontaneous and I love going on adventures.  I wanted it to be very personal to me.  I know a lot of folks feel that their blog names are reflective of who they are but I often find myself looking at titles along on my Google Reader and wondering who exactly that is and what they're about.  I like to have fun and I occasionally throw some humor around, so I thought the title was perfect for me.  I'll be updating things around the blog and updating my advertising buttons.
That being said...

SWAPORTUNITY!

The last time I had a swaportunity, I was able to meet Kayla and Jane and a ton of new readers!

Enter Promo Code: changeisgood

and receive a month of free swappage here on The Simplicity of Being Curious.
Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor!

xoxoxox,

2012 Wish List

1. Nikon D3100 Camera

I have always wanted a DSLR camera and swooning over Pinterest pictures and other blog photos will soon come to an end. My husband is planning on getting me one as a combined birthday/Christmas present and I am so pumped!

2. Silhouette Cameo 

I love crafting and having Silhouette ideas pop up on my Instagram has seriously made me wantin' one of these.  

3. Books

I am a big fan of Oprah's digital book club.  I love getting her e-mails on the latest books to try.
They always have such fun categories.  One of these books that I have been dying to read is Gone Girl.

4 & 5. DVDs

Classics are always so much fun to watch and Singin' in the Rain is my favorite.
The songs, musical numbers, and all of it are a blast and a half.
I also love Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's. She reminds me of an ambitious young college girl and I think she represents a little bit of all young women out there.

6. Threebirdsnest Accessories

Fun fact...I obsess over fun winter and fall accessories and what could fit those impulses any better than the Threebirdsnest on Etsy?  I love her products and I have been waiting to order one for awhile or learn how to knit/crochet like a beast.  One or the other...I will have a knitted headband ;)